Well, it's impossible to defend against. The only way to defend against it is to allow the opponent to pass it to your penalty box, and then try to nick the ball before he gets the shot off, which suits me incredibly bad because I don't have the patience to just let someone pass their way all over the pitch, which means that I slide around and leave my defence exposed.

Feel pretty good that I didn't go for any of the teams that I've played with before, it's always so annoying in these tournaments when you choose one of the teams you're best with against an opponent that's better than you and "waste" that team.

Aye, particularly that last bit then. I'm a bit prone to brainfarts in defence towards the end

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Yeah, don't think I would've won anyway even if I had made it 3-2, but at least it provided some tension to the final minutes instead of a total borefest where you just wait for the final whistle to blow.

Immediately both teams pressed from the start with Damien almost scoring from intercepting my midfielder, but for a last ditch challenge.

It took about 15 minutes for the first real chance which fell to Damien hitting the post from a long range strike.

Soon after, Damien paid the price for a high line and nearly conceded but for a hesitant Kiebling in front of goal.

From the resulting save, the GK threw it straight to Kiebling who weaved past the defence and was rewarded a somewhat dubious penaty which was tucked away after 18 minutes by Schurrie.

Despite the goal, the game remained even with myself continuing to struggle against Damien's Barca-esque pressing game. He was rewarded with a goal on the stroke of half time after a lovely delicate chip from Hulk after he was left unmarked in the area. The real question is, was it intentional?

However it wasn't long before I re-gained the lead after Kiebling broke away from the defence and finessed it passed the on-rushing goalie. 2-1.

Seemingly Damien's players had tired from their early pressure and gaps were left to exploit in a more one-sided second half with Renato Augusto beating the offsite trap to make it 3-1.

Once again the two strikers were causing havock and after a quick turn from Augusto it was a 2v1 situation with him passing it across the goal to Kiebling to tap into an empty net after 82 minutes. The game was over by this point yet the Leverkusen strikers continued to confuse the Porto defenders and Augusto headed the 5th in the 90th minute.

Well, it's impossible to defend against. The only way to defend against it is to allow the opponent to pass it to your penalty box, and then try to nick the ball before he gets the shot off, which suits me incredibly bad because I don't have the patience to just let someone pass their way all over the pitch, which means that I slide around and leave my defence exposed.

Feel pretty good that I didn't go for any of the teams that I've played with before, it's always so annoying in these tournaments when you choose one of the teams you're best with against an opponent that's better than you and "waste" that team.

Immediately both teams pressed from the start with Damien almost scoring from intercepting my midfielder, but for a last ditch challenge.

It took about 15 minutes for the first real chance which fell to Damien hitting the post from a long range strike.

Soon after, Damien paid the price for a high line and nearly conceded but for a hesitant Kiebling in front of goal.

From the resulting save, the GK threw it straight to Kiebling who weaved past the defence and was rewarded a somewhat dubious penaty which was tucked away after 18 minutes by Schurrie.

Despite the goal, the game remained even with myself continuing to struggle against Damien's Barca-esque pressing game. He was rewarded with a goal on the stroke of half time after a lovely delicate chip from Hulk after he was left unmarked in the area. The real question is, was it intentional?

However it wasn't long before I re-gained the lead after Kiebling broke away from the defence and finessed it passed the on-rushing goalie. 2-1.

Seemingly Damien's players had tired from their early pressure and gaps were left to exploit in a more one-sided second half with Renato Augusto beating the offsite trap to make it 3-1.

Once again the two strikers were causing havock and after a quick turn from Augusto it was a 2v1 situation with him passing it across the goal to Kiebling to tap into an empty net after 82 minutes. The game was over by this point yet the Leverkusen strikers continued to confuse the Porto defenders and Augusto headed the 5th in the 90th minute.

Good game Damien, you came on strong in that second half and I was definitely more than concerned at the end

EdWeatherall (Croatia) 3-2 Damien1990 (Ath. Madrid)

The game was off to a flying start with a great opportunity for Athletico, they found themselves attacking in numbers and had the ball in the area with just one/two defenders to beat, somehow the defenders won out and were able to launch a rapid counter-attack which resulted in Olic being played through and under pressure from the defender he squared to Eduardo for an empty net tap-in*

And then Croatia peppered the Ath. Madrid for much of the half with shots firing in from all angles and all distances, forcing acrobatic and quality double saves from the Athletico goalkeeper and it wasn't until later in the half that Olic was able to settle the nerves, powering in when one on one with the GK

Croatia 2-0 Athletico Madrid. HT

The second half started as the first begun, and when Modric picked it up 40yrds out with the defence back-tracking he advanced and advanced and then curled in an unstoppable shot into the top corner from the edge of the area to give Croatia a three goal lead.

But then the game was to change very dramatically, as suddenly instead of standing off their opponents, Athletico Madrid's players were getting tight and tackling aggressively to stop the slick one-twos that Croatia were trying and they were able to get more ball to attack themselves.

And they were rewarded, as Arda Turan picked up the ball and drove between the CB and RB to get to the byeline to get a fine cross in that gave the GK no chance and there was Falcao getting in front of the LB to head in to the open net.

And there was yet more late drama, as Croatia messed up a harmless free-kick in their own area, presenting the ball to Athletico, who ultimately worked the ball to Falcao who drove into the box, a clever cut back saw him with time and space with only the 'keeper to beat, he made no mistake firing low into the far corner

Croatia's lead was down to one, and that was how it was to remain, there was to be no glorious comeback for Athletico Madrid as Croatia held on and were able to see out the game.

Croatia 3-2 Athletico Madrid. FT.

*Apologies for that goal, I never normally like to score them unless someone has done it to me first, but your defender was all over my players' back, I didn't really see any alternative

Good game Damien, you came on strong in that second half and I was definitely more than concerned at the end

EdWeatherall (Croatia) 3-2 Damien1990 (Ath. Madrid)

The game was off to a flying start with a great opportunity for Athletico, they found themselves attacking in numbers and had the ball in the area with just one/two defenders to beat, somehow the defenders won out and were able to launch a rapid counter-attack which resulted in Olic being played through and under pressure from the defender he squared to Eduardo for an empty net tap-in*

And then Croatia peppered the Ath. Madrid for much of the half with shots firing in from all angles and all distances, forcing acrobatic and quality double saves from the Athletico goalkeeper and it wasn't until later in the half that Olic was able to settle the nerves, powering in when one on one with the GK

Croatia 2-0 Athletico Madrid. HT

The second half started as the first begun, and when Modric picked it up 40yrds out with the defence back-tracking he advanced and advanced and then curled in an unstoppable shot into the top corner from the edge of the area to give Croatia a three goal lead.

But then the game was to change very dramatically, as suddenly instead of standing off their opponents, Athletico Madrid's players were getting tight and tackling aggressively to stop the slick one-twos that Croatia were trying and they were able to get more ball to attack themselves.

And they were rewarded, as Arda Turan picked up the ball and drove between the CB and RB to get to the byeline to get a fine cross in that gave the GK no chance and there was Falcao getting in front of the LB to head in to the open net.

And there was yet more late drama, as Croatia messed up a harmless free-kick in their own area, presenting the ball to Athletico, who ultimately worked the ball to Falcao who drove into the box, a clever cut back saw him with time and space with only the 'keeper to beat, he made no mistake firing low into the far corner

Croatia's lead was down to one, and that was how it was to remain, there was to be no glorious comeback for Athletico Madrid as Croatia held on and were able to see out the game.

Croatia 3-2 Athletico Madrid. FT.

*Apologies for that goal, I never normally like to score them unless someone has done it to me first, but your defender was all over my players' back, I didn't really see any alternative

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Sorry again for you waiting so long. I said I'd be 5 minutes but it was slightly longer. Again, good game and a good review Scored the second just a bit too late to have time to get the third.

No worries with the goal. I don't like them either but like you said you didn't have much option.

Good game Lynk, very cagey affair, with both of us defending well, I thought you had more of the ball in and around my box, but I probably had the two best chance of the match

Lynk (Benfica) 0-0 EdWeatherall (Porto)

In a battle for Portuguese supremacy, Porto travelled to Benfica in what was a hotly anticipated game.

It was a very tight affair, with chances at a premium. The first chance fell to Porto with their winger finding himself with space to shoot, but the GK saved well low to his left. The next chance came at the other end, with Cardozo skewing wide from what would have been a difficult position to score

Benfica's best chance of the match came late on in the first half, as Cardozo was played through by a lovely weighted lobbed through ball and as the ball sat nicely for him to shoot he powered a shot towards goal, it was blocked behind by the GK for a corner though

The second half began with two shots by Aimar, both from the corner of the area, the first he tried to bend with his right foot into the top corner - but was comfortably saved by the GK. The second from the same position saw him shoot high and wide on his left foot

Hulk was having a quiet game, but was able to force a corner from the LB, a corner that was swung in dangerously but was just too high for the Porto player, as he couldn't get over and headed it a long way over.

And then late on, the best chance of the game fell to Hulk, he bustled into the area some how and saw himself with a player on his back and the GK rapidly closing, he tried to fire away a shot, but under pressure the GK had been able to come right out and close the shot down with the defender able to clear

Good game Lynk, very cagey affair, with both of us defending well, I thought you had more of the ball in and around my box, but I probably had the two best chance of the match

Lynk (Benfica) 0-0 EdWeatherall (Porto)

In a battle for Portuguese supremacy, Porto travelled to Benfica in what was a hotly anticipated game.

It was a very tight affair, with chances at a premium. The first chance fell to Porto with their winger finding himself with space to shoot, but the GK saved well low to his left. The next chance came at the other end, with Cardozo skewing wide from what would have been a difficult position to score

Benfica's best chance of the match came late on in the first half, as Cardozo was played through by a lovely weighted lobbed through ball and as the ball sat nicely for him to shoot he powered a shot towards goal, it was blocked behind by the GK for a corner though

The second half began with two shots by Aimar, both from the corner of the area, the first he tried to bend with his right foot into the top corner - but was comfortably saved by the GK. The second from the same position saw him shoot high and wide on his left foot

Hulk was having a quiet game, but was able to force a corner from the LB, a corner that was swung in dangerously but was just too high for the Porto player, as he couldn't get over and headed it a long way over.

And then late on, the best chance of the game fell to Hulk, he bustled into the area some how and saw himself with a player on his back and the GK rapidly closing, he tried to fire away a shot, but under pressure the GK had been able to come right out and close the shot down with the defender able to clear

0.0 FT

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Yep, tight match. Will be interesting to play you again in the return fixture. =p